With this 1992 book, The CEO Paradox, Tom Horton, career IBM manager and longtime CEO of the American Management Association, wanted to reach not just any reader, but CEO readers. He wanted them to explore with him the paradox of their job--CEO "privilege" on the one hand, and "accountability" on the other. He asked them some hard questions, such as, "does the sedan-chair-like treatment of many top executives distance them too far from the reality of their customers and employees? And who is accountable for the demise of once profitable companies and whole industries?"

Horton made great headway in accomplishing this goal before the book was even printed. Rave reviews (to be reprinted on the book jacket) came in from CEOs or very senior executives of companies around the country, including leaders of Atlantic Mutual Companies, HASCO, MCI Communications, RJR Nabisco, and Rouse Company. Most impressively, J.W. Marriott, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Marriott International (who may be the single most admired CEO in the service industry), called Horton's book "a perceptive look at the challenges facing today's CEOs."

The problem is that some CEOs failed to read this book, which had messages that could have saved many leaders from the failures and scandals of the mid-to-late 1990s. Its 18 chapters cover the full range of potential CEO concerns, including a few wickets that proved to be very sticky in the latter part of our decade. In "Greed and More Greed," Horton counsels CEOs to avoid excessive compensation, an area that would lead to several CEO ousters in the mid-1990s. In "Controlling Those Twittering Hormones," he warns men and women alike to channel their urges into good deeds: "Instead of hitting on that object of your potential affection, you might consider holding out a helping hand. Inexperienced managers could benefit from your experience, and a mentoring relationship with younger people could help your organization as well as them." Again, wise words that were spoken before their time, which is clearly now.

In summary, a book with timeless-yet timely-wisdom. CEO Paradox may be out of print, but it will never go out of style.